Why the Female Gaze is so important for art – especially in the conservative political climate

VOGUE: Would you say that the meaning of the female gaze has changed since the work of Judy Chicago in the 1970s?

Catherine Morris: I think, first of all, it's much more accepted. The idea of ​​the female gaze , as distinct from the male gaze, is taken for granted today. In the 1970s, part of the struggle was to even clarify what the female gaze was. And the new generation has broadened its meaning. Social media often promotes superficial hot takes, but we live in a time where the call for nuance is increasingly important. The notion of the female gaze also needs to be viewed in a nuanced way. It requires an awareness of the multitude of different life experiences.

In the 70s, when Judy was thinking about this, the discussion was predominantly directed at men in positions of power, mainly white men within the art world in the US and Europe. Also, we live in a time where we can no longer easily define such terms, as they have different meanings for different people. That's an aspect I really value in my work. My approach is not to define feminist art, but rather to apply a feminist methodology—an approach to looking . I'm interested in how feminism as a social movement influences our perceptions. Is this a female gaze? I think so. And I think it's a gaze that transcends gender boundaries.

"The Dinner Party" is considered a groundbreaking work of feminist art. Many of the women represented, such as Virginia Woolf, naturally engaged with the female gaze. How do you assess the current relevance of Chicago's work? Are there people you would place at the table today?

The significance of "The Dinner Party" lies in making us aware of how much we still don't know. It challenges us to learn more about the 1,038 women celebrated in this work. Judy's decision to create an interactive work of art rather than a book or encyclopedia was revolutionary. One of the most common questions I'm asked is who I would sit at the table today. Honestly, I don't have a clear answer. Sometimes I think "The Dinner Party" is complete as a work. Does it need to be expanded? Not necessarily. But talking about it, discussing it? Always.

The vulva-shaped depictions on the plates are legendary and have also sparked much criticism. Today, similar depictions—like the sliced ​​fruit in Stephanie Sarley's works—are widespread on social media. Would you say that the digital sphere is changing the perception of female imagery?